1 We have this ministry to do, even as we obtained mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 We have renounced the hidden things of shame. And we do not walk in craftiness and deceit. We do not adulterate the word of God. But by the manifestation of the truth we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who perish.
4 The god of this age worldreligious, social, political, and economic arrangement has blinded the minds of unbelievers that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine on them.
5 We do not preach about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus as Lord. We are your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 God said: Light will shine out of darkness. He shined in our hearts. He gave the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face presence (person of Jesus Christ.
7 We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the power beyond what is normal may be from God, and not from ourselves.
8 We are pressed afflictedtroubled on every side, but not crushed. We are perplexed yet not to despair.
9 We are persecuted, yet not forsaken. We are struck down, yet not destroyed.
10 We always carry in the body the death of Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death works in us, but life in you.
13 But having the same spirit attitude of faith, according to that which is written, I believe, and therefore I speak. We also believe, and therefore we also speak.
14 We know that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15 All things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
16 We do not give up! Though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
17 Our light affliction is for the moment. It works more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory for us.
18 We do not look at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporal for a season. But the things that are not seen are eternal.